Interlocked mine-car wheel and journal-box.



APPLICATION FILED JAN.15. I917;

Patented Oct. 30, 1917.

pnrrnp spares Parana, ounion.

WARREN V. JOHNSON, F BLOOMSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR 'IO AMERICAN CAR AND FOUNDRY COMPANY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATI N OF NEW JERSEY.

INTERLOCKED MINE-CAR WHEEL AND JOURNAL-BOX.

Patented Oct. 30, 1917.

Application filed January 15, 1917. Serial No. 142,465.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WARREN V. JOHNSON, residing at Bloomsburg, Columbia county, State of Pennsylvania, and being a citizen of the United States, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Interlocked Mine-Car Wheels and J ournal-Boxes,

' of which the following is a full, clear, and

exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which illuswithin the scope of the claims will occur to persons skilled inthe art.

- In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical section transversely of a mine car through a wheel and journal box applied to such car;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 22 of Fig.1, showing the coupler annulus in wheel-retaining position and also illustrating, in dot and dash lines, the members of the coupler annulus in position to release the wheel; and

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the journal box showing a means ofattaching the coupler annulus thereto.

This invention relates to means for mounting roller bearing or other wheels on axles or shafts so that the wheels may be rota tively retained thereon by an interlocking of themselves with hearings or journal boxes for the axles or shafts.

An application of the invention to running gear for mine cars results in a highly advantageous arrangement in which the wheels of any car equipped with running gear constructed in accordance with this invention may be easily slipped onto or re moved from the axles most conveniently. Such wheels may also be retained .or released by the simple operation of an incomplex coupler. Different methods of mountin the coupler will suggest themselves to mechanically skilled persons, but a con venient way will be to pivotallymount the coupler on the journal box or hearing so that it will constitute a hinge like annulus adapted to have its free endslocked together and also attached to the journal box or bearing.

Parts of the wheel and journal box may be so formed as to co-act with the coupler annulus to retain the wheel on the axle or shaftwithout interfering with the free rotation of the wheel.

It is proposed that, when the coupler annulus is unlocked, a member thereof shall automatically open by gravity, while another annulus member shall be manually operable to its open position, and when the members are open they co-act to remain in their open positions, freeing the workman applying or removing the wheel from necessary and annoying attention to the coupling means.

Other features of merit becoming apparent hereinafter are, of course, to be regarded as coming within the scope of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, in Fig. 1 a portion of an axle or shaft 1 is shown as extending transversely of the'mine car body 2, which axle extends through a journal box 3 and projects outwardly beyond the side of the car body 2. Slipped over the outer projecting end of the axle or shaft 1 is a roller bearing wheel 4 having a hollow hub 5 that is provided with a closed outer end 6 and an open. inner end, outlined by an annular flange 7.

The outer end of journal box 3 is recessed so that it is provided with an annular flange 8 that extends beyond the outer end wall 9 of journal box 3. The inner flanged end of wheel hub 5 projects into the journal box recess so formed and suitable packing 10 prevents the entrance of dust or grit between the inner end of the wheel hub 5 and the outer end wallfl ofjournal box 3.

Inserted in. the wheel hub 5 is a roller bearing comprising a flanged cylindrical sleeve 11, a roller-positioning annulus 12 retained by the flanges at the inner end of sleeve 11, an end thrust bearing member 13 retained "by the flanges at the outer end of sleeve 11 and a plurality of cylindrical roll ers 14 which have trunnions at their opposite ends adapted to travel in annular channels or guideways 15 and 16 on the inner faces of end thrust bearing member 13 and annulus 12, respectively. The entire "roller bearing assembly is conveniently locked within wheel hub by any suitable means such as a bolt and nut 17, the head of the boltbeing countersunk in the bearing -member 13 and the bolt shank extending through the outer wall 6 of wheel hub 5 and having applied thereto a suitable nut.

Outer end wall 6 of Wheel hub 5 1S perforated and threaded for the reception of a plug 18, the removal of which plug pre sents an opening for the entrance of lubricant. The lubricant is adapted to pass through apertures 19 in end thrust bearing member 13 and to be, delivered to the cylindrical rollers 14. Said rollers carry and wipe the oil about the outer end of axleor shaft 1 along which the lubricantis entrained so that it may pass into and lubricate the bearings in the journal box 3. As best shown in Fig.3, a boss or p'rotu berance 20 extends from each side of the annular flange 8 of the journal box 3, and, as indicated in Fig. 2, the protuberances 20 are diametrically opposed.

A coupler comprising, preferably, a pair of similar substantially semi-circular members, is attached to one ofthe protuberances or bosses 20, in What. is in elfect a permanent manner, by a pivotal means, such as a bolt 21. lhe shank of said bolt passes through apertures in the fulcrumed ends of the upper and lower coupler members 22 and 23, extending through one of the bosses 20 and projecting rearwardly beyond the outer end wall 9 of ournal box 3. A nut or collar 24 is applied to the projecting end of bolt 21 and may be held against withdrawal by the insertion of a cotter pin 25 through the shank of bolt 21 outside of nut or collar 24.

As may be observed in .Fig. 2, the free ends of the upper and lower semi-circular coupler members 22 and 23 are also provided with perforations which are adapted to register with each other and with a hole in the boss 20 that is diametrically opposed to the center of rotation of coupler members 22 and 23, when said members are in their closed positions, as indicated in full lines in Fig. 2.

Another bolt 21 passes through the apertures in free ends of upper and 'lower coupler members 22 and 23 and through the boss with which they are associated, the

ternal diameter of the flange 7 at the inner end of hub wheel 5, so that while Wheel 4 is adapted to'freely rotate it cannot release itself from the outer end of axle or shaft 1. Coupler annulus members 22 and 23 being securely fastened to diametrical points on the outer end of journal box 3, resistance to the separation of the wheel hub 5 from the journal box is adequately great. Also, there will be no excessive end thrust by axle or shaft 1 tending to disrupt the connection between said wheel and journal box 3, there being a collar 26 on said axle or shaft adapted to abut the inner end i of journal box 3 and to modify the end thrust of said axle against the end thrust bearing member 13. I

When the wheel is first applied to the projecting end of shaft 1, or whenever it is desired to remove a wheel that has been in service, one of the bolts 21 is removed, according to which is most convenient. In

the drawings, this has been indicated in:

Fig. 2 as the bolt at the right, and after the cotter pin 25 and collar or nut 24 associated with that bolt have been removed andpt h ebolt itself withdrawn, the lower cou' lrler member 23 will swing by gravity to approximately ,the position indicated in Fig. 2. The upper coupler annulus member 22 is operated manually to be swung to the position indicated in Fig. 2. shown in Fig. 3, a shoulder 27 is provided near the opposite ends of upper coupler annulus member 22, preferably by bending outwardly the lower ends of member 22 .which lap corresponding ends of the lower coupler annulus member 23.

When upper annulus member 22 is swung to its open position, one of the shoulders 27 will encounter the outer edge of lower coupler annulus member 28 and rest thereupon so that said upper coupler annulus member 22 will lie in an open position. It will thus be seen that, under the influence of gravity, both members of the coupler annulus are held in their open positions, making it very convenient to apply or remove the wheel 4.

It will,'of course, be understood that the fulcrumed ends of the semi-circular coupler members 22 and 23 may be more permanently retained by substituting a rivet for the bolt 21 that pivots them to journal box 3. It is, however, optional with the manufadturer whether he will use a rivet connection or that illustrated.

What I claim is:

1. In combination, a journal box, an axle passing therethrough, a wheel mounted on said axle having a portion telescoping with said journal box and a coupler comprising a plurality of rotatably anchored members and means locking said members against but operable to permit rotation of said mem bers, said coupler preventing or permitting As clearly separation of said journal box and wheel according to the positions ofsaid members. 2. In combination, a journal box, an axle or shaft projecting therefrom, a wheel mounted on said axle or shaft adjacent said journal box and a coupler comprising a plurality of pivoted members and means for locking said members in such relation to said journal box and wheel as to prevent eseparation thereof, said members being op- Aral-x1e to permit separation of said journal box and wheel. j

3. In combination, a flanged journal box, an axle or shaft having a bearing therein, a flanged wheel mounted on said axle or shaft adjacent saidjournal box and a coupler comprising a plurality of pivoted members and means so relating said members to the flanges of said journal box and wheel as to prevent separation of the last two mentioned elements, said members being capable of rotary movement to permit the separation thereof. j

4. In combination, a journal box, an axle or shaft having a bearing therein, a wheel mounted on said axle or shaft and a coupler secured to said journal box comprising a plurality of members adapted to be arranged to co-aet with said journal box and wheel to retain the latter on said axle or shaft, some. of said members being adapted to be moved without disconnection from said journal box to positions whereby said wheel may be removed from said axle or shaft.

5. In combination, a journal box, an axle or shaft bearing therein, a wheel mounted on said axle or shaft and a coupler pivotally connected with the journal box and comprising a plurality of members adapted to co-aet with said journal box and Wheel to retain the latter on said axle or shaft and means preserving such eo-action, said members being adapted under the influence of gravity to be retained in positions permitting the withdrawal of said wheel from said axle or shaft.

6. In combination, a journal box, an axle or shaft bearing therein, a wheel mounted on said axle or shaft and a coupler pivotally connected with the journal box and comprising a plurality of members adapted to co-act with said journal box and wheel to retain the latter on said axle or shaft, one of said members being operable by gravity and another thereof being operable manually to cause both members to mutually react and be heldin positions permitting the withdrawal of said wheel from said axle or shaft.

7. In combination, an axle or shaft, a bearing therefor, a wheel mounted on said axle or shaft and a coupler comprising a plurality of members adapted to co-act with said bearing and Wheel to retain the latter on said axle or shaft, said members being operable one by gravity and another thereof manually to permit the release of said wheel from said axle or shaft, said members being adapted to cooperate to remain in wheelreleasing positions.

8. In combination, a wheel having a hub flanged near one end, an axle entering said hub, a roller bearing in said hub receiving 'said axle or shaft, a journal box through and beyond which said axle or shaft projects,

means on said axle or shaft limiting such projection of the same and a coupler comprising members adapted to swing embracing the flanged end of said hub and cotiperating therewith and with said journal box to retain said wheel on said axle or shaft.

9. In combination, a journal box, an axle or shaft bearing therein, a wheel having a hub mounted on said axle or shaft and a coupler comprising a plurality of rotatable member's, means pivotally mounting the same and means for lockingthe free ends of said members, the latter when locked hub portion to retain said wheel on said axle or shaft, said members being rotatable to wheelreleasing positions.

11. As an article of manufacture, a conpler comprising a plurality of rotatable members, means making a hinge-like eonneetion therebetween and adapted for connection to a support, said members having free ends adapted to he brought into propinquity to form an annulus that is adapted to cooperate with the indicated support and a wheel to cause the latter to be retained on an axle or shaft iind means for locking the free ends of said members together adapted for connection to the support, said members being adapted to be opened to release the wheel. I

12. As an article of manufacture, a conpler comprising a pair of rotatable members, means making a hin e-like connection therebetween and adapted for connection to a support, said members having free ends adapted to be brought into propinquity to form an annulus that is adapted to cooperate with the indicated support and a .Wheel to cause the latter to be retained on an axle or shaft and means for locking the free ends of said members together adapted for connection to the support, one of said members being adapted by gravity and the other to cause the latter to be retained on an axle thereof by manual operatlon to be opened. or shaft and means for locking the free ends to release the wheel. of said members together adapted for con- 13. As an article of manufacture, a counection to the support, one of said mem- 5 5 pler comprising a pair of rotatable members being adapted by gravity and the other here, means making a hinge-like connection thereof by manual operation to be opened therebetween and adapted for connection to to release the Wheel, said members co-acting 'a support, said members having free ends to remain in open positions. adapted to be brought into propinquity to In witness whereof I have hereunto set 20 10 form an annulus that is adapted to oo6permy hand. I

- ate with the indicated support and a wheel WARREN V. JOHNSON. 

